18 August 2026

OpenAI launches ChatGPT version with stronger safeguards for teenagers

OpenAI released ChatGPT for Teens, a version automatically activated for users it estimates are under 18, featuring stricter content filters around self-harm, eating disorders, and sexual material.
The teen version includes Study Mode, which asks guiding questions instead of giving homework answers, and detects when students try to cheat and redirects them to learning-focused features.
Parents can link their accounts to teen profiles to set Quiet Hours, manage settings, and receive safety alerts when the chatbot detects high-risk conversations.
The chatbot refuses to roleplay having emotions and warns against uploading private images, protections OpenAI says come from developmental science and expert guidance.
The launch follows multiple lawsuits alleging ChatGPT exposed minors to harmful content and contributed to teen deaths, plus Florida filing the first state-level suit against OpenAI in June.